Need a replacement for a Norton in the bridge of an HSS strat

[jmcorey]

Hi All,

I have a Cort G290 superstrat guitar, HSS, alder with carved full-thickness quilt maple top, rosewood board on maple neck. Got the guitar set up with a fret dress and new nut by Tom Pellerito, and now it plays like buttah. Anyone in SE Michigan or NW Ohio should check Tom out.

The guitar has two Area 58s in the neck and bridge. Pretty good, realistic strat tone. I play everything except metal through Fractal Ax8 usually into front of house. Tones to die for, in my book.

My problem is switching from the single coils to the Norton in the bridge. The tone darkens tremendously, way too much. The guitar has 500k pots, one tone, one volume, so I don't think a tone pot change would solve the problem.

There are lots of alternate HBs that might fit the mold. In terms of Dimarzios, 36th Anniversary, bridge or neck, might work. PAF Pro could do the job also, or even the FRED.


From Duncan, I envision a PG, C/59 hybrid, or even a Jazz. Please don't mention APH-1 or 59s, both of which I do not like at all.

However, I seldom run pickups from 2 different companies in the same guitar, so if I went with Duncan, I might change the Areas out for STK-S4s. Would there be much difference in tone between these two models?

Thanks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Need a replacement for a Norton in the bridge of an HSS strat

I love the STK-S4 & 59/Custom Hybrid combo, and I use a variation of that in my HSS Strat. The Hybrid splits really well, too, if that is your thing. It isn't dark at all, but rather open, and the output isn't so high to overtake the STK-s4.

 

[Top-L]

Re: Need a replacement for a Norton in the bridge of an HSS strat

Hi All,

I have a Cort G290 superstrat guitar, HSS, alder with carved full-thickness quilt maple top, rosewood board on maple neck. Got the guitar set up with a fret dress and new nut by Tom Pellerito, and now it plays like buttah. Anyone in SE Michigan or NW Ohio should check Tom out.

The guitar has two Area 58s in the neck and bridge. Pretty good, realistic strat tone. I play everything except metal through Fractal Ax8 usually into front of house. Tones to die for, in my book.

My problem is switching from the single coils to the Norton in the bridge. The tone darkens tremendously, way too much. The guitar has 500k pots, one tone, one volume, so I don't think a tone pot change would solve the problem.

There are lots of alternate HBs that might fit the mold. In terms of Dimarzios, 36th Anniversary, bridge or neck, might work. PAF Pro could do the job also, or even the FRED.


From Duncan, I envision a PG, C/59 hybrid, or even a Jazz. Please don't mention APH-1 or 59s, both of which I do not like at all.

However, I seldom run pickups from 2 different companies in the same guitar, so if I went with Duncan, I might change the Areas out for STK-S4s. Would there be much difference in tone between these two models?

Thanks.

I played the norton for many years in a mahogony superstrat, and i loved it until...i tried the fred. The norton has a big hifi sound, the fred is like the norton without the big low mid hump.

Paf pro also great, at least in basswood, havent tried in alder. Sounds glassy in mahog.

My vote is fred. If its too big sounding, return for paf pro.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Need a replacement for a Norton in the bridge of an HSS strat

I played the norton for many years in a mahogony superstrat, and i loved it until...i tried the fred. The norton has a big hifi sound, the fred is like the norton without the big low mid hump.

Paf pro also great, at least in basswood, havent tried in alder. Sounds glassy in mahog.

My vote is fred. If its too big sounding, return for paf pro.

Thanks for this. I've always wanted to try a Fred, actually. Thanks also to Mincer for the C/59 hybrid suggestion.